Category Archives: Misc

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Tonight’s Irish Times/Ipsos General Election 2016 exit poll

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FYI: 2011 results (source Wikipedia)

Tonight’s poll

What does it all mean?

Shane Heneghan writes:

This is sensational. The poll taken at 200 locations across the countriy with a sample size of 5,260 shows Fine Gael (26.1%), Fianna Fail (22.9%) and Labour (7.8%) on a combined total of just 56.8%.

Sinn Fein on 14.1% have to be somewhat disappointed even if this would represent a significant leap forward in Dáil representation.

Of the smaller parties, the Greens may be happiest on 3.5% – almost double what they got in 2011 and will be looking forward to getting back to the Dáil.

The big winner has to be the group of independents and others on a staggering 28%.

This unprecedented group of loose alliances and independents is likely to be seen as the chief stumbling block on the way to formation of a government- it may even make the election of a Ceann Comairle a bit tedious.

If this result is replicated tomorrow, we can look forward to a high turn over of deputies and many “Portillo moments” with many unexpected newbies triumphing as well.

On these numbers, it’s hard to think of any other possible result than some arrangement between the two civil war parties and a second election in a few months.

It hardly seems worthwhile taking down the posters.

Shane Heneghan is a Galway-based psephologist

Election 2016: Irish Times exit poll shows Coalition well short of overall majority (Irish Times)

Irish Gothic by James M Chimney (apols to Grant Wood)

Meanwhile…

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Voting this morning in St. Joseph’s National School on the Navan Road, Cabra in the Dublin West constituency

You’ve had your say.

Now have your say. Again.

Anyone?

Sasko Lazarov/Rollingnews

Meanwhile…

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‘sup?

Pram-bound Pug puppy Otto at a polling station in Clondalkin, Dublin 22 this evening.

Thanks Mark McCormack

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Today.

Voting in the General Election 2016 at St Joseph’s NS, Cabra, St Aidan’s CBS, Whitehall and Schoil Mhuire, Sandymount.

From top: Mary Lou McDonald (Sinn Féin) , Dublin Central constituency; Joan Burton (Labour),  Dublin West; Roisin Shorthall (Soc Dems)) Dublin North West and Lucinda Creighton (Renua) in Dublin Bay South.

Rollingnews

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Thomas Slab Murphy arriving at the Special Criminal Court this morning (top) and leaving this evening (above) for an unspecified prison.

Alleged former IRA “chief of staff”, Thomas ‘Slab’ Murphy, has been sentenced to 18 months in jail for tax evasion.

He was convicted of nine charges at the Republic of Ireland’s non-jury Special Criminal Court in December….

….Speaking to journalists before the hearing started, he was asked if he would go onto the republican wing if he was sent to prison.

Murphy replied: “I’ve no idea, I’ve never been in jail before.”

When asked if he might now write a book on his experiences, he said: “Ah, ye (you) have all written it already.”

‘Slab’ Murphy: Tax evasion jail term for alleged ex-IRA chief (BBC)

Meanwhile…
NUJ seeks garda probe into intimidation of journalists by associates of ‘Slab’ Murphy (Independent.ie)

Rollingnews

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‘sup?

This afternoon.

Kevin O’Farrell writes:

I was driving to the Fishman, local fish shop in Wicklow Town and happened upon a seal who had made his way to the shop. He swam up the Vartry River, jumped up onto the foot path and made his way across to the Fish Shop. Apparently this has become part of his daily routine at high tide.

Update:

Kevin adds:

To clarify, the lads at the fish shop were worried the seal would be hit by a car. Some days he apparently makes it into the shop.

The lads usher him back across the road. Each time they  get a bucket of fish guts and throw it into the river.  The seal then jumps back in, has his feed, and back up onto the path a cross the road and the cycle continues...only rolling to an end when the seal has had its feed.

The lads also informed me it has become worse as of late, as the seal now has a girlfriend so he is also feeding her and showing off.…well worth a visit at high tide.

The Fanzines

You may like this.

The Fanzines are playing Toner’s on Baggot St., on Sunday as part of the venue’s Alternative Sunday Social Club, and they’re bringing a bunch of underloved/fondly remembered power-pop and new-wave gems with them. “Bringing bands back to Baggot Street”, sez the presser.

Here’s the blurb:

The Fanzines are a covers band, specializing in Top 20 hits from the New Wave/Power Pop era. Every song a guitar hit from THE era of guitar hits, and a song or two from the ’60s right up to a couple from the late ’80s to ensure something for everyone.

Any chance of a bit of Generation X, lads?

The Fanzines